Toy article

ABSTRACT

A toy article having a body formed in an egg-like configuration and defined by a base portion in which a weight is located, a central portion having a preselected design formed thereon, and a top portion having a downwardly extending shaft joined thereto that engages the base portion for securing the body portions together in a unitary construction, the weight in the base portion cooperating with a rounded bottom wall thereof to insure that the body will always return to an upright position regardless of exterior forces applied thereto.

United States Patent [191 Adickes [451 Apr. 23, 1974 TOY ARTICLE [75] Inventor: Cecil F. Adickes, Playa Del Rey,

[21] App]. No.: 310,157

[52] U.S. Cl. 46/155, 46/17 [51] Int. Cl A63h 15/06 [58] Field ofSearch 46/16, 17, 155, 131

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 907,092 12/1908 Schoenhut 46/155 Primary Examiner--L0uis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalter & Michaelson [5 7] ABSTRACT A toy article having a body formed in an egg-like configuration and defined by a base portion in which a weight is located, a central portion having a preselected design formed thereon, and a top portion having a downwardly extending shaft joined thereto that engages the base portion for securing the body portions together in a unitary construction, the weight in the base portion cooperating with a rounded bottom wall thereof to insure that the body will always return to an upright position regardless of exterior forces apl plied thereto.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TOY ARTICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toy articles of the play doll type that have design features applied thereto that simulate human characteristics.

The toy article embodied in the present invention is constructed such that it has an egg-like configuration, a weight being located in the bottom portion thereof so as to form a non-tipable device. Such non-tipable devices have been known heretofore, wherein a weight is located in the bottom portion thereof so that the device has a low center of gravity; and by forming the bottom portion with a rounded bottom wall, the article will always tend to locate itself in an upright position regardless of exterior forces applied thereto. Prior to the instant invention, devices of the kind described have generally been constructed in a two-piece unit and may have had some exterior design imprinted thereon so as to impart or simulate a character or figure or the like. Such devices have normally not been utilized as play dolls, primarily because the construction thereof did not lend themselves to forming the figures in reduced form. Moreover, heretofore an inexpensive technique of assembling component parts to form a small figure of the type described was not known and consequently the manufacture of toy articles having an egg-like configuration usually comprised a relatively large device that was formed in two pieces, a weightbeing secured in the lowermost of the pieces in some convenient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The toy article embodied in the present invention consists of a body'formed in an egg-like configuration and including a baseportion having a rounded bottom wall, a central cylindrical portion and a top portion having a rounded top wall. The top portion of the article is formed with a central shaft that extends downwardly through the central portion and into engage-- ment with the base portion for interlocking the base, central and top portions together in a unitary construction. The bottom portion has a cavity formed therein in which a' weight is located, the weight effectively locating the center of gravity of the body in the base portion so that the rounded bottom wall cooperates with the weight to always return the body to an upright position regardless of exterior forces applied thereto. In the commercial form of the toy article as embodied herein it is contemplated to imprint fanciful designs or figures on the exterior surfaces of the base, central and top portions so that the article has the appearance of a human character; and by varying the size of the article, considerable play value may be attached thereto when a number of articles are used as a group.

Accordingly, it is an object of .the present invention to provide a toy article formed in an egg-like configuration and weighted at the bottom so as always to be returnable to an upright position, the body being formed in a plurality of interfitting portions that provide for the easy assembly thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy article that is formed in an egg-like configuration and that has a preselected design of a figure imprinted on the outer surface thereof the simulate a character, the body having a weight located in the bottom thereby to cause the body to always return to an upright position after external forces applied thereto, and the body being formed in a plurality of portions that are easy to manufacture and that provide for the simple assembly thereof.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the ac companying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the toy article embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the toy article showing the component parts thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the toy article embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a body formed in an egg-like configuration. The egg-like body includes a weighted base. portion generally indicated at 12, a central portion generally indicated at 14 that is mounted on the base portion, and a top portion generally indicated at 16 that is mounted on the central portion 14 and that is interconnected to the base portion 12, to unite the portions that define the body in a unitary construction. As will be described, the toy article 10 has play value when the exterior surfaces thereof are imprinted with character-like figures; and since the body is always retained in an upright position, because of the weighted base portion, the imprinted figures on the egg-like body impart human-like characteristics to the body; and as will be described, increases the play value of the toy article.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base portion 12 is shown including a curved bottom wall 18 and an interior cavity or chamber 20 in which a weight22 is received. The lower portion of the weight indicated at 24 has a rounded configuration that conforms to the configuration of the bottom wall 18 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Integrally joined to the bottom wall 118 and extending upwardly therefrom, is a central column 24 having a bore 26 formed therein. Communicating with the bore 26 is an aperture 28 into which a flowable adhesive is introduced, the adhesive being utilized to secure the elements of the body together as will be described.

The uppermost end of the body portion 12 is notched to define a reduced neck section 30 and a shoulder 32, the neck section 30 and shoulder 32 cooperating to receive the central portion 14 thereon. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the column 24 extends upwardly above the upper surface of the weight 22 and receives thereon a washer 34 having a central opening formed therein that is aligned with the bore 26. In this connection the washer 34 is formed with an internal annular recess 35 into which the upper end of the column 24 extends. As will be described, the washer 34 not only retains the weight 22 within the cavity 20 but also cooperates with an element of the top portion 16 for locating the portions of the body together in proper position.

I As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the central portion 14 is formed in open-ended cylindrical configuration and includes a bottom portion 36 having a fixed inner diameter, the dimension of which provides for sliding engagement of the central portion 14 over the annular neck section 30. The outer surface of the bottom portion 36 is curved and cooperates with the bottom wall 18 of the bottom portion 24 to be substantially contiguous therewith so as to form a continuous surface when the base and central portions are interlocked. The central portion 14 further includes an upper portion 38 that is integrally joined to the lower portion 36, the inner diameter of the upper portion 38 having a reducing taper and corresponding to the outer configuration thereof. As shown more clearly in FIG. 1, the upper portion 38 of the central portion 14 is formed with an inwardly directed annular lip 40 which defines an upper opening 42 and annular upper edge 44 that cooperates with the opening 42 to retain the top portion 16 in engagement therewith as will be described.

Also formed as part of the central portion 14 and adhered to the outer surfaces of the bottom portion 36 and top portion 38 thereof is a film 46 of plastic material that has any desired design or coloring imprinted thereon and that cooperates with the surfaces defined by the bottom portion 12 and top portion 16 to form a character or the like. The film 46 is shrink-fitted onto the central portion 14 and is thereby adhered to the outer surface thereof to form an integral part of the central portion.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the top portion 16 includes a rounded top wall 48, the radius of curvature of which is substantially less than that of the bottom wall 18. The curvature of the top wall 48 also is designed so as to provide a contiguous surface thereof with the adjacent surfaces of the central portion 14 when the parts are interfitted. In order to accommodate the top portion 16 on the central portion 14, a notch is formed in the top portion 16 to define an annular shoulder 50 that engages the upper edge 44 of the lip 40, the notch also defining a reduced neck section 52 that is dimensioned for being received within the opening 42 in sliding relation. lntegrally joined to the top wall 48 and extending downwardly therefrom is a central shaft 54 that is formed with exterior splines 56 thereon for a portion of the length thereof. The bottommost edges of the splines 56 are located such that they engage the upper surface of the washer 34 for fixing the washer over the weight 22. The bottommost edges of the splines 56 also define a stop for the top portion 16 when it is inserted in the interlocking position thereof. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom portion of the shaft 54 extends into the bore 26 of the column 24 and is spaced from the bottommost edge of the bore 26 to define a small chamber 58 therein. The chamber 58 communicates with the aperture 28 and receives a flowable adhesive therein, the chamber 58 providing for free flow of the adhesive into engagement with the shaft 54 and the surfaces of the bore 26 to secure the shaft 54 within the upwardly extending column 24 of the base portion 12.

In the assembly of the device, the weight 22 is inserted within the cavity 20 as formed in the bottom portion 12, and the central portion 14 is placed on the base portion 12 after the washer 34 is placed over the column 24 and into contact with the weight 22. The shaft 54 of the top portion 16 is inserted into the bore 26 until it is fully received therein; and thereafter, the adhesive is inserted through the aperture 28 into the chamber 58, the adhesive flowing into contact with the shaft and serving to positively secure the shaft 54 within the bore 26, thereby fixing all of the body portions together in a unitary construction.

It is seen that when the bottom, central and top portion are assembled, they define a body having an egglike configuration and that the outer surfaces of the body portions are contiguous to impart the appearance of a unitary one-piece construction. In order to enhance the play value of the toy article, designs may be imprinted on the surfaces of the bottom and top walls that will cooperate with the figures imprinted on the film 46 adhered to the central portion 14 to form a human-like figure. Thus, the top wall may be molded in a color to simulate hair, and the film 46 may have color graphics imprinted thereon that will impart human characteristics to the article such as a face, clothing, hands and other human features. The bottom wall 18 may also be molded in a color or design that will coop erate with the color of the top wall and the designs imprinted on the film 46 to create therewith a design that will have interesting play value.

Since the weight 22 is secured within the bottom portion 12 by the washer 34, the center of gravity of the article is lowered to such an extent that the device will always return to an upright position if tipped over. Since the bottom wall is rounded, the article may be tipable, but cannot fall over and will always move back to the upright position.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy article, comprising a body that includes a base portion having a rounded bottom wall, a central cylindrical portion having a portion thereof that has an upwardly reducing diameter, and a top portion having a rounded top wall and including a central shaft that is joined to said top wall and extends downwardly through said central portion and into engagement with said base portion, said base portion having a cavity formed therein in which a weight is located, the weight lowering the center of gravity of said body to such an extent that the rounded bottom wall cooperates with the weight to retain the body in an upwright position regardless .of exterior forces applied thereto, said base portion having a central column formed thereon that extends upwardly from said bottom wall and that is formed with a bore therein, said shaft extending into said bore and being secured therein, said column extending above the uppermost surface of the weight in said base portion, a washer interfitted over said column and engaging said weight, said washer having an opening extending therethrough for receiving said shaft therein, a shoulder formed on said shaft that engages said washer, wherein said washer is urged into positive engagement with said weight for retaining the weight in the cavity in said base.

2. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, said base portion, central portion and top portion being individually formed and separable from each other, said base portion engaging said central portion at the lowermost end thereof, and the top portion engaging said central portion at the uppermost end thereof, the securement of said shaft in said bore as formed in the central column of said base portion interlocking said base portion, central portion and top portion together as a unit.

3. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, the bottom most end of saidshaft being spaced from the lowermost end ofthe bore in said column, wherein a chamber is defined ther'ebetween, an aperture extending through said bottom wall and communicating with said chamber, said aperture and chamber providing access for a flowable adhesive that is introduced therein to fix said shaft in the bore of said column.

4. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, said base portion being formed with an annular shoulder that defines a reduced neck section adjacent to the uppermost end thereof, said central portion slidably interfitting over said reduced neck section and engaging said annular shoulder, wherein the outer surfaces of said base portion and central portion are contiguous.

5. A toy article as set forth in claim 4, said top portion having a downwardly directed reduced neck section that defines an annular shoulder, the uppermost end of said central portion having an inturned annular lip that defines an opening through which the reduced neck section of said top portion extends, the annular shoulder of said top portion being received on the inturned annular lip of said central portion. 

1. A toy article, comprising a body that includes a base portion having a rounded bottom wall, a central cylindrical portion having a portion thereof that has an upwardly reducing diameter, and a top portion having a rounded top wall and including a central shaft that is joined to said top wall and extends downwardly through said central portion and into engagement with said base portion, said base portion having a cavity formed therein in which a weight is located, the weight lowering the center of gravity of said body to such an extent that the rounded bottom wall cooperates with the weight to retain the body in an upwright position regardless of exterior forces applied thereto, said base portion having a central column formed thereon that extends upwardly from said bottom wall and that is formed with a bore therein, said shaft extending into said bore and being secured therein, said column extending above the uppermost surface of the weight in said base portion, a washer interfitted over said column and engaging said weight, said washer having an opening extending therethrough for receiving said shaft therein, a shoulder formed on said shaft that engages said washer, wherein said washer is urged into positive engagement with said weight for retaining the weight in the cavity in said base.
 2. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, said base portion, central portion and top portion being individually formed and separable from each other, said base portion engaging said central portion at the lowermost end thereof, and the top portion engaging said central portion at the uppermost end thereof, the securement of said shaft in said bore as formed in the central column of said base portion interlocking said base portion, central portion and top portion together as a unit.
 3. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, the bottom most end of said shaft being spaced from the lowermost end of the bore in said column, wherein a chamber is defined therebetween, an aperture extending through said bottom wall and communicating with said chamber, said aperture and chamber providing access for a flowable adhesive that is introduced therein to fix said shaft in the bore of said column.
 4. A toy article as set forth in claim 1, said base portion being formed with an annular shoulder that defines a reduced neck section adjacent to the uppermost end thereof, said central portion slidably interfitting over said reduced neck section and engaging said annular shoulder, wherein the outer surfaces of said base portion and central portion are contiguous.
 5. A toy article as set forth in claim 4, said top portion having a downwardly directed reduced neck section that defines an annular shoulder, the uppermost end of said central portion having an inturned annular lip that defines an opening through which the reduced neck section of said top portion extends, the annular shoulder of said top portion being received on the inturned annular lip of said central portion. 